News from Ward 4 Town of Richmond Hill

I have always been impressed with the stewardship and care that Richmond Hill residents and council have collectively taken toward our natural environment. Our community has been blessed with a large collection of green spaces, river valleys, wetlands forests, and lakes. Many of these blessings were bestowed on Richmond Hill as a result of the last glaciation over 12000 years ago.

I have had the opportunity to fly over our Richmond Hill a few times. From the perspective of 1000 feet, I have found it remarkable just how much green space we have and also the extent of the tree canopy we enjoy in Ward 4, and the rest of Richmond Hill.

With this blessing of abundant green space comes the responsibility to be good stewards of our environment. Maintaining and enhancing our natural heritage is important for today, but also for future generations.

Each year at this time I have published a Special Environment E Newsletter highlighting some of the good work that is being done in Richmond Hill toward protecting and enhancing our natural heritage. Below in this newsletter are a number of stories that illustrate this work.

There is always more work to do. The pressure that development has, in the past exerted, and continues to exert, on our natural areas requires a constant state of attention and vigilance. Richmond Hill has grown, and will continue to grow in the future. We will need to be able to protect and enhance the health, viability, biodiversity and connectivity of the natural areas that we presently enjoy. We must also ensure as we grow, that we have adequate spaces for people to interact with nature now and in the future.

I appreciate you taking the time to read this newsletter and I look forward to hearing any feedback you may have. My email address is [email protected] , my cell number is 416-346-3090 and my office number is 905-771-2480.

Sincerely,

David West

Ward 4 Councillor Richmond Hill

To find more information and Environmental programs offered by the Town of Richmond Hill please visit https:// www.richmondhill.ca/en/find-or-learn-about/Environment.aspx

For an article about the Legacy of Glaciation for Richmond Hill click here.

Banner Photo - Ward 4 North and Ward 4 South from 1000 feet above - an interesting perspective illustrating the extent of our natural green spaces.

2016 Environmental Accomplishments

To effectively protect and enhance our environment we need many citizen, corporate and community group partners to all work towards this common goal. The graphic above illustrates some of the notable environmental accomplishments from citizens, and groups throughout 2016. For a full report on these accomplishments and others, I would encourage you to view a recent Council Staff Report on this subject by clicking here.

Clean Up, Green Up Weeks

Did you know ...

A total of 80 groups (62 volunteer groups and 18 schools) have signed up this year for the Clean Up Green Up event. This represents a total of 6650 participants.

The Town is also supporting an additional 2415 participants registered through Pitch-In Canada. For these participants the Town picks up and disposes of the garbage and recycling bags gathered during these events.

This makes a total of 9065 people participating in cleanup events throughout Richmond Hill.

Thank you for your participation!

A group of enthusiastic community members in the Selwyn Road area got together this past weekend to clean up the streets and parks in their neighbourhood. We cleaned up most of the stretch from Gamble Road to Tower Hill Road. A big "Thanks" to Brad and Stacie for their community caring and leadership in arranging this event with their neighbours as a part of the Clean Up Green Up initiative that Richmond Hill has been promoting. To learn more about the initiative visit https://forms.richmondhill.ca/Web-Forms/Clean-Up-Green-Up-Week

Seedy Saturdays at Richmond Hill Public Library

are back!

I wanted to make people aware of this service in Richmond Hill. Unfortunately, due to the timing of the publish date for e newsletter, the program has just finished for this spring but it will be back in the fall and again next spring. Below is a description of the services that the Seed Library offers for your future reference.

On each of the first four Saturdays in April, Richmond Hill's green thumbs are invited to Central Library to borrow seeds for their garden, and to bring their own seeds to exchange with others in our community! As well, gardeners can learn how to help bring back pollinators to Richmond Hill!

A seed library is a lending library that offers seeds at no financial cost for library customers and accepts saved seeds for the enjoyment of gardeners in our community. The basic idea is to borrow, grow, and return seeds.

Never borrowed from our seed library before? It's as easy as 1-2-3!

1 - Check out the seeds you would like to grow.

2 - Plant your seeds, and follow the growing instructions.

3 - Try to harvest seeds from your crop, and return them to the Library in the Summer/Fall.

Give it a try!

Seeds are subject to availability, but a wide variety of flower seeds and herb and vegetable seeds are offered.

RHPL Seed Library

Saturday, Apr. 1 / 8 / 15 / 22

11AM - 4PM

Central Library Lobby

CEC Mayor's Monarch Pledge Conference

As reported in last month's e newsletter I recently had an opportunity to present Richmond Hill's experience with signing the Mayor's Monarch Pledge at a conference that included delegates from Mexico, the USA and Canada. For a full report please click here.

Creating a Monarch Oasis Gardening Seminar

On April 1st Richmond Hill Public Library hosted a seminar delivered by Evergreen on Creating a Monarch Oasis in your garden. The seminar offered information about how to create a front yard garden that was useful to butterflies and pollinators while using native plant species. Attendees learned about the characteristics of different native plants that are appropriate for both sun and shade locations. The seminar inspired experienced gardeners, and those like me - not so experienced gardeners. I have already ordered my plants and am waiting to plant my Monarch and Pollinator friendly garden (see Healthy Yards Article below)

While it is important for a municipality like Richmond Hill to be good stewards of our environment, it is just as important for each of us as individuals to create a private property that enhances our supply of habitat for various creatures. In particular, creating gardens that are beautiful spaces, but at the same time enhance habitat for species like butterflies and pollinators benefits us all. Our individual efforts may be small, but the collective result makes a positive difference.

For more information about planting your Monarch and Pollinator friendly garden please visit

www.evergreen.ca/get-involved/resources/native-plants-and-invasive-species/start-your-own-native-plant-garden/

PS. If you have a great pollinator garden already or, like me, are working toward that goal, feel free to send me a photo of your work and/or advice that I can share in a future newsletter!

Create A Beautiful Garden At A Low Cost!

Between April 4 and May 12, you can pre-order trees, shrubs, perennial flowers, backyard composters and rain barrels (while quantities last)! Kits range from $25.50 for 5 trees/shrubs, $10.20 for 2 trees/shrubs and $22.44 for a selection of perennial flowers (plus HST). Fruit trees and shrubs will also be available for pre-order this year!

On Saturday, May 27, pick up your order at our Healthy Yards Event from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Operations Centre. At the event, you can talk to gardening experts, win gardening prizes and take home free wood chips!

Visit RichmondHill.ca/HealthyYards or call 905-771-8800 to learn more.

Annual Earth Day Tree Planting Event In Richmond Hill

As a parent, and as an ex teacher, I have always been an enthusiastic supporter of giving children meaningful experiences in our natural environment. It is a well known fact that it is good for young people to get their "hands" (and boots) dirty while getting to know their natural world.

On Friday, April 21 at the Oak Ridges Community Centre "our kids" planted 750 trees to celebrate Earth Day and Canada 150. This event happens each year, and many areas of our Town have been naturalized by groups of children. This year's planting event resulted in a record number of trees planted and was a fitting legacy project during our Canada 150 celebrations!

Below are some of my favourite images from the day.

There will also be a Community Tree planting on June 4th at Rumble Pond Park (see below for details)

When: Saturday, June 4, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Where: Rumble Pond Park

How: To sign up, please contact Antonio Munafo at [email protected] or call 905-771-8800.

Celebrate Our Environment At Mill Pond Splash!

And Kids Run For Nature

Again this year I am proud to serve on the organizing committee for the Mill Pond Splash. A number of organizations lead by the Toronto Region Conservation Authority and with support from the Town of Richmond Hill, would like to invite you to bring the whole family for hands-on environmental activities and general eco-fun! As a part of the Splash and for the second year we will also be including the Kids Run for Nature which raises money and awareness of the great work that the World Wildlife Federation does for endangered wildlife around the world. For information on the Run visit www.kidsrunfornature.ca.

The Mill Pond Splash features something for everyone, including a park greening event, children's nature activities, wildlife demonstrations, environmental displays, music, entertainment and refreshments. Bike valet will also be available, free of charge, to park and safely store your bikes during the event.

For more information, visit

trca.on.ca/millpondsplash

RichmondHill.ca/Events.

For a report and photos of past Mill Pond Splashes click here, or here

Walking And Cycling in Richmond Hill

Did you know that Richmond Hill has an extensive and growing network of trails for walking and hiking. Many of these trails are "off road" and wind through our green spaces. A really great map of this trail network can be picked up at community centres, libraries, and the Operations Centre or online by clicking here. A network map of trails throughout the rest of York Region can be found here for those that want to venture with their bike outside of Richmond Hill. Whether you take your bike to commute or for pleasure these trails provide a safe, and in many cases scenic route to enjoy.

This summer Richmond Hill will be adding a trail connection from Gamble Glen Cres to the Trans Richmond Hill Trail. Aside from this trail being a beautiful walk through the ravine it will also be a way from residents in this area (especially those students attending St. Theresa of Lisieux Catholic High School) to walk to their destinations while bypassing Bathurst St. Details of this route are contained below.

Protect Yourself Against West Nile Virus &

Lyme Disease

West Nile Virus is an illness with flu-


Photo Credit: York Region

like symptoms that can become serious in some cas es. The virus can be spread to humans by the bite of infected mosquitoes.

You can reduce your risk of infection by taking a few simple precaustions.

Get rid of standing water, it provides a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
Wear light-coloured long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
Wear insect repellant.

Visit York.ca/westnile for more information.

Lyme Disease is an inflammatory


	Photo Credit:York Region

illness spread through bites from infected blacklegged ticks, also called deer ticks.

To protect yourself from tick bites:

Use insect repellant when walking in grassy or wooded areas.
Wear light-coloured long sleeved shirts and long pants.
Pull your socks over your pants.
Look for ticks on your body, especially in the groin, scalp, underarm and back areas.
Submit ticks to York Region Public Health for testing.

Visit York.ca/lymedisease for more information.

Other Environment Related Articles

Of specific interest on my website:

http://davidwest-richmondhill.ca/join-the-blue-dot-movement/

http://davidwest-richmondhill.ca/implementation-of-greening-the-hill-our-environmental-strategy/

http://davidwest-richmondhill.ca/taking-action-to-save-monarch-butterflies-in-our-own-backyards/

http://davidwest-richmondhill.ca/eab-update-ash-tree-replacement-removal/

http://davidwest-richmondhill.ca/second-annual-richmond-hill-blooms-gala/

http://davidwest-richmondhill.ca/coming-soon-an-improved-elgin-mills-greenway/

http://davidwest-richmondhill.ca/emerald-ash-borer-ash-tree-removal/

http://davidwest-richmondhill.ca/commission-environmental-cooperation-mayors-monarch-pledge-conference/

http://davidwest-richmondhill.ca/1st-annual-ward-4-maple-syrup-festival/

http://davidwest-richmondhill.ca/on-our-landscape-and-environment-the-legacy-of-the-glaciers/

http://davidwest-richmondhill.ca/an-environmental-declaration-for-richmond-hill/

http://davidwest-richmondhill.ca/monarchs-and-milkweed/

http://davidwest-richmondhill.ca/elgin-mills-greenway-report/

http://davidwest-richmondhill.ca/the-mill-pond-splash-report/

Past Environment Edition E Newsletters

2016 Environment Newsletter http://conta.cc/210N0s9

2015 Environment Newsletter http://conta.cc1WO4FAZ

Ward 4 Community Corner - Your Shot

If you have a great photo taken in Richmond Hill I would love to feature it here. Send it to me at [email protected] to be in next month's e-newsletter!

Turtle Traffic at the Mill Pond

Taken April 2017 by Photographer Ward 4 Resident Rob Young

Snapping Turtles at the Mill Pond by Photographer Ward 4 Resident Rob Young